market go to pieces, isn't going to let the stock market go to pieces. >> people are concerned over this nation, over the threat of internal security in our country, by the breakdown of law and order, and it is a sad commentary, when you cannot walk on the streets, or in the parks, of the largest cities our country. >> former vice president republican richard nixon defeated democratic vice president hubert humphrey and democratic governor george wallace, who was running as the american independence party candidate. watch "historic presidential elections" saturdays at 7:00 p.m. eastern on "american history tv" on c-span2. if you are enjoying "american history tv", then sign up for our newsletter, using the qr code on the screen to receive weekly highlights of upcoming programs, like lectures in history, american artifacts, the presidency, and more. sign up for the ahtv newsletter today, and be sure to watch "american history tv" every weekend, or any time online at c-span.org/history.

weekends on c-span2 are an intellectual feast. every saturday, "american history tv" documents america's story. and on sundays, book tv brings you the latest in nonfiction books and authors. funding for c-span2 comes from these television companies and more, including wow. >> the world has changed. today, a fast, reliable internet connection is something nobody can live without. so, jean becker four is there for our customers with speed, reliability, value, and choice. now more than ever, it all starts with great internet. >> wow, along with these television companies, support c- span2 as a public service. i mj's barry, i am the executive director of the bush school in washington, d.c., and i am the person who has to herd the cats before we get started here tonight.

so, for those of you who haven't been here, i will tell you who you are. you are at the bush school in washington, d.c., the bush school of government and public service. we prepare students for the noble calling of public service, through our masters level programs in international policy and national security, and intelligence studies. we opened our doors in january of '21 with a class of 12 and this fall, we will welcome more than 100 students. >> [ applause ] make no doubt, we aspire to change the world. it is going to take us a little while, because we will do it one graduate at a time. but, that is what we are shooting for. but, tonight, we have a special event. it is a special evening, and in a lot of ways, it feels like a reunion. returning to the bush school d.c. stage is a bush school advisory member, and author, jean becker. so -- [ applause ] but, before

we begin, i would like to introduce distinguished guests -- but, the rule is so full of them, honestly -- that i would only like to introduce one. we are honored to have so many of you that are with us, but one that stands out tonight, i would like to have the room welcome judge honorable william webster, former director of the cia and fbi. [ applause ] thank you, sir. [ laughter ] we understand that judge webster is 100 years old -- sir, thank you for your service, and thank you for being here tonight with us. well, jean becker served as chief of staff during george h.w. bush during his post-vice presidency years, and served as press secretary to first lady barbara bush. jean is the best-selling offer

of "the men i knew," for george h.w. bush his post-presidency. jean is here to discuss her book "character matters and other life lessons from president george h.w. bush." this really represents the unique strengths of the both bush school in washington, d.c. the legacy of president bush, and most importantly, our students. if those if you would like to meet our students, you can join them in class at 6:30 tonight after the event. but, these students answer the noble calling of public service and contribute to their communities and country in so many ways. we would not be here tonight, however, and not experiencing our rapid growth and success, without the vision and generosity of the diana davis spencer foundation. these students are part of the diana davis spencer program in national security, on their way

to make a tremendous impact. well, joining jean tonight on stage are three distinguished journalists, who have also covered the 41st presidency. ann compton was assigned to cover the white house for abc news in 1974. he traveled the globe with seven presidents, from ford to obama. he covered 10 presidential campaigns, and served as president of the white house correspondents association. welcome. [ applause ] jean gibbon, a former white house correspondent for reuters news agency covered presidents carter through clinton and was also named a panelist on the 1992 presidential debates. sir, thank you. [ applause ] peter mayer is not hiding behind me, he is a retired cbs news white house correspondent, who covered presidents carter through obama, a winner of numerous awards, he is a visiting fellow

on the presidency and press at the marlin fitzwater center for communication at franklin pierce university. sir, thank you and welcome. [ applause ] a few logistics, or reminders, for tonight. this evening's event is very much chatham house rules. please, take this opportunity to silence your phones, okay? [ laughter ] okay. we will take care of that. will someone please get jean's phone? c-span will be here. so, you can tuck your phone away, and they will record the event appropriately for us to gather later. at the conclusion of the program, the reception will continue in the back for everyone. so, with that, jean, it is over to you. [ applause ] >> okay, let me start by saying, this is probably no big shock, but we are missing a panelist. that would be jamie gangal --

gosh, i wonder why he is so busy tonight? has anyone here not seen the news? okay, you know. so, jamie had to pull out of -- he is on cnn right now . an interesting night to talk about "character matters". but, you said, that is exactly why, for my opening remarks, i'm going to use my written notes. because sometimes, i go astray and i can be naughty. places, bul of public service. that was the texas a&m, lobbying very hard for the presidential library. competing with yale, houston, and a bunch of other places. he wanted the school of public service. that is the deal. he didn't want an institute, foundation, as he once said to me. there are enough institutions

and foundations doing good work. he wanted a school of public service. as he said in many -- about the school, had no guarantee that they can make a difference in their communities, and in their states. to school has lived up everything he wanted it to be. he would be so proud. he would be so proud of what you have done. he would be so happy with it. the quote i just read you, is actually on a bust. at the bush school at texas a&m. former dean, have the students investigate running his nose on the bus, for good luck before major test. president bush said, thank god i

it is only a bust. somebody just got that. i heard a delayed chuckle over here. before we get to our panel, i mo just want to tell a quick story. they will talk to the history behind them. most of you all know, the investor from saudi arabia, to the 30 years, during the campaign of president bush. a lot of you know her. this is like a reunion. margaret was at the state department, all during the session. margaret called me, and said have you heard the rumor, assassinated by the series? >> that is not typically the

gossip that i hear. i have not heard that rumor. has not been seen for months. we think he is dead. do you mind calling your sources, and finding out? this would not surprise judge webster. what she wanted me to do, was called the cia. president bush, his relationship, head of the cia. always had an analyst assigned to him. to answer his questions, to keep him going with what he needed to know. i called our analyst. i had classified clearance. i wanted to make sure that you all knew that. character does matter. i called the cia, would you know? we have boots on the ground. we think it is true. hasn't been seen for months. we can't confirm.

margaret, called me back the next day. when the press, is dead. you need to tell him. it is going to be on cnn in 30 minutes. you need to tell him now. reluctantly, i told him. it was tough news to tell him. did you try to call? no. okay. i am hollering in the window. and, his assistant. could you get the prints on the phone? we would like to call them. prince, on line 1. president bush picks up the phone.

i remember this as if it was yesterday. george bush, everybody thinks you are dead. are you dead or alive? he looked at me. he says he is alive. yes, i figured that out. the syrians are trying to kill him. he is in hiding. i am in hiding. they are not going to find me. don't worry about it. i will let you know that he is still alive and well. president bush, got off the phone, and he said, this is a very good life lesson for you. if there is ever any confusion, if someone is dead or alive, you call them. if they answer the phone, they are alive. you know, he had a point. about an hour later, the cia called me back. i really hate telling the story

in front of judge webster. the cia woman called me back. we are pretty sure he is dead read we haven't confirmed it. go ahead and tell him that we think -- have been assassinated. took a deep breath, told d,her was alive. with attitude, said, you know that how? president bush called him on his cell phone. el he answered the phone. to which she said, we need to put that man back on payroll. i love telling the story. it is a great story. the story is actually not in this book. i put that story in the book. i repeated it in the book. i put it back in here. my editor wanted me to repeat it. we learned so much from him. watching him, listening to him, this book is my editor's idea.

you need to learn from them in. please let me know. i have not done that yet. what i did, i actually wrote a bunch of people. emailed a bunch of his friends. you have a story that you can tell about him. this is something that you learn from him. i think there are 156 of her stories are here. about 10 of you in this room. if you wrote an essay, can you stand up? >> [ applause ]. >> the stories are from everybody from john major, to

reba mcintyre, and dan harvey. to bill clinton. very bipartisan. to the young man at walker's point, and everybody in between. before we go to the panel, i just want to read a couple of things to you tonight, that really shows the character of this book. and of this man. the first, oval office address that he gave. after the rodney king verdict in los angeles. i think most of you remember that rodney king was a black man that was beat up by white police officers read it was really the beginning of this terrible situation in our country. this is what he said to the nation. if we are to remain the most vibrant and hopeful nation on earth, this is the adversity where he can bring us together.

my drive us apart. we must build a future, where in every city across this country, empty rage gives way to hope, poverty, or despair. we must then turn again to the underlying causes of such tragic events. we must keep ryon working, to create a climate of understanding, and tolerance. a climate that refuses to accept racism, bigotry, anti- semitism, and hate. anywhere, of any kind. tonight, i ask all americans to lend their hearts, their voices, and their prayers, to the healing. this is more than ever. this is from joe strauss. the former speaker of the house

in texas. standing on what he called the front porch of democracy, to get his inaugural address on january 20th, 1989, president bush said, i take as my guide, the hope of a saint. in crucial things, important things diversity, and all things generosity. present era, partisanship has risen. tribalism has spread there is great impact in those three basic ideas. unity, diversity, and generosity. too often, the way to get ahead in politics, is by appealing to someone's worst instincts, rather than their better angels. we have been conditioned to think that the path to power, is there dividing and conquering. in contrast, president bush built bipartisan coalitions around lasting achievements, from the passing of the th americans disabilities act, to operation desert storm.

i can think of no better remedy, to the tribalism, and our politics today, then the words resident bush spoke, and the approach he embodied. he knew how to tap into our common goodness. rather than trying to exploit g our differences. decency and goodness, conservative versus liberal, red versus blue. i'm going to go from that to his radio address, to the nation, after he lost the election. it is short. i want to get to the great panel. regular address to the nation.

way back in 1945, winston churchill, was defeated at the polls read he said, i have been given the order of the boot. that is the exact same position in which i find myself today. i admit, this is not the is it please position i would have preferred. it is the judgment that i honor. having the sweet taste of this popular flavor, i can taste the defeat. it is seasoned for me by my deep devotion to the political system, under which this nation has thrived for two centuries. ours is a nation that has shed the blood of war. this is from tears of depression. we have a feminine imagination, seeing the technologically miraculous, become almost mundane. always, our advantage has been the spirit of constant confidence. in america, the only things not

yet a conflict, are the things that have not yet been tried to read president-elect clinton, meets all americans to unite behind him. we can move our nation forward. more than that, he would need to draw upon this unique american spirit. there are no magic outside solutions to our problems. the real answers lie within us. we need more than a philosophy of entitlement. we need to all pitch in. we need to do our part, to hope for a brighter future for this country. with the spirit, we can realize the golden opportunities before us, and make sure that our new day, like every american day, is filled with hope and promise. that's what he said to the nation when he lost the election. i'm not throwing any comparisons. before we talk to our panel, in

honor of judge webster, the beginning of every chapter, i can quote my favorite quote from that chapter. my apologies to all of you who did not get the quote at the beginning of your chapter. so sorry. this is what he said. living lies with honor, honesty, loyalty, and integrity. we are paramount to barbara and president bush. how to instill this back into our american discussion, and life, should be what drives each of us daily. thank you, sir. thank you. >> [ applause ]. >> [ inaudible ]. thank you, jay.

i was seven presidents and any inaudible ]. >> this is below your pay grade 2, but do that. thank you. >> [ inaudible ]. it is news to me. not because of me, because he is so famous for.

i'm going to tell this story. i want you to buy the book. i'm going to tell you what happened after he sent the letter. it was a moment of international crisis. he was coming off of marine one. faced the press. we hadn't spoken to him yet. when i asked him the question, he barked at me. i can read. what is your question? i was taken back. he had certainly never spoken away to me before. the next day, i get a letter of apology to the press. when i retired from abc news in 2014, brian lamb asked me to come over to cspan, and sit down for an hour to call about all of these presidents. this is the envelope here that

you haven't explained. this is a letter that i got from george herbert walker bush. i said that he barked at me. he had been written me the most touching letter that i could ever imagine. about one month letter -- later, i got another letter. on stationary, with the house in the pines on it. now about that park. i'm horrified read are you sure that it wasn't a yelp? in any case, have you forgiven me? this is not one, but two letters from the president of the united dates. george bush is the only president of the united states. that i have ever emailed, and gotten a response. >> thanks to his chief of

staff. with my husband, looking at the college reunion. we are sitting at the old dining hall. like hogwarts. across the ceiling, in all of the big, old, dark, oiled portraits of all the famous men, except for one. which just looked so out of place. it was bright in color. there was a man standing there in a pale gray suit. brilliant white building with columns. i pull out my cell phone in the comments. dear mr. president. that was looking at the portrait here at yale. you were smiling down from the portrait high on the wall. the youngest smile in the hall. i'm in the dining room with the commons with my husband. yes, even white house correspondence. get to go to old reunions.

he was the same class as my husband. our dear friend, couldn't make it to speak for his father class of 50 is expected to read i think of you often, as i come from the 21st century. i offer your many kindnesses. and compton, who has never emailed a president. dear anne, the next day. it is wonderful hearing from you. i like the youngest part of the best. this is what i love about this letter. it is not about portraits and history. all is well by the sea. tomorrow, 85th birthday. big day in her life. i'm giving her a small surprise party, tomorrow night, at one of our favorite restaurants. i don't know.

otherwise, -- >> he invited 150 people. >> small surprise party. that was good to know. >> even for prince -- came. he was alive. >> the present continues. otherwise, all is quiet at walker's point. the kids and grandkids will start arriving soon. then it will no longer be quiet. maybe i will sit and watch the chaos. we rarely go out anymore, and live a very happy, contented life. we watch a lot of law and order. i still go out on my boat. i sit and watch the sea. i count our blessings. among them, having many friends like you. thanks for checking in. signed george bush, the old guy.

thank you. >> before we go to dean, he loved email. he was obsessed with email. i am so delighted that a lot of the family is here tonight. one of his best friends. the former time magazine, cover the presidency forever. i think from truman, through clinton, i think. one of my favorite letters in the book, is the letter that he wrote. they had a wonderful correspondence, about the day that we had to shut down the email. we had a virus. you would have thought the man had died. be sure to read the letter. it give you an excuse. i love looking at this over here. you are on. >> before we begin, let me elaborate on who i am.

giving a meeting of the poison electron mission. before, she introduced becky and me. -- who the visitors were. she described me as president bush favorite number, for the white house press board. stepping to the podium. it looks at me, and says the most favorite member of the white house press correspondent, that is kind of like being the best restaurant in a hospital. i am the hospital. i feel like president bush was the little league determine compared to the national

committee. i was covered right then. invited me and a couple of other congressional reporters to come over one afternoon. this is for an off the record session. i like bush from the get-go. that has stuck with me ever since. i never understood the disconnect, between the public reception of bush, as much as the aloof aristocrat. bush, the least protective of anyone i had encountered. -- marked the measure of a man. during the bush presidency, i was called the ward of the white house correspondents association. this is the association

generated. one year, i was sitting next to a comedian. an entertainer. a lot of her jokes were inappropriate, and some were cruelly insulting to the president. there wasn't much laughter during the presentation. only scattered applause when she sat down. she was nearly in tears. bush saw what was going on. grabbed his place card, scribbled it on the no court, and passed it. this is a tough crowd. don't let it bother you. nevermind the insulting jokes, of the team, he saw that the woman was humiliated, embarrassed, resell, and try to make her feel better about herself. i always look bush for what i wrote about in the book.

two or three days, 2012, my wife died on effectively. she wasn't sick she turned 65 only a few days previously. went to bed one night and never woke up the bottom fell out of my world. two or three days later, i got a call from the former president of the united states. george bush, was on the phone, calling to express his sympathy. he was 88 years old. at times, time was his most precious possession. he used 15 or 20 minutes of it to talk to me, to try to comfort me. he could have had staff drove a letter of condolence, and send it on out there and i would have been grateful. that would have sufficed. bush, went the extra mile. it meant so much to me then. it still means a lot to me

know. there is a sequel to this story. a few years after, i have a wonderful widow from south carolina. we started dating. i took her to my favorite place in all the world, maine. during our stay, we have the privilege of visiting mrs. bush. at one point during the conversation, i said to him, mr. president, i'm thinking about asking this young lady to marry me. i need a character reference. can you help me out? bush said, jean is a good guy. go for it. i propose the next day. she said yes. i think president bush, had a lot to do with that. thank you. >> [ applause ]. >> before i turn this over, to

peter, mainly because jamie is not here, we are going to have time for q&a. i want to be thinking. if you don't ask questions, i'm just going to get up and read more from the book. you don't want that. be thinking about your questions. peter, you are up and >> thank you for the honor of being here. most of all, for this book. what a joy it was. what a joy it was to wash your devotion to president and mrs. bush. every page of this book, it reminds us of the character of george h.w. bush. in an objective reporter tonight, character does matter. character is going to be on the ballot in every election down

the line read in the top of november for sure. candidates are always on the valid. -- ballot. poignant and very funny moments with president bush. several standout to me. i will be as quick as i can. the approach to managing foreign-policy prices, 10 ultimate moments in fall history. i was privileged to be in the white house pool that day. for those of you not familiar, a small group of reporters represents everyone else did within the oval office. as we entered the oval office, with pictures flashing from all over the world, the wall is being chiseled down. east germany, coming across.

there was the president of united dates, sitting in his chair behind the desk of the oval office. seemingly very relaxed. he was understated in his comments. as the q&a started, making a brief introduction of his own thoughts, i asked him. is this the end of the iron curtain? i went back to my notes in the transcript. he said quote, i don't think any single event is the end of what you might call the iron curtain. clearly, this is a long way from the largest iron curtain, a step towards europe that is whole and free. it was clear to me immediately, that president bush, probably one of the best foreign policy experts ever, to live in the white house, to serve in the united states, given all of his previous work as a cia director, member of congress,

ambassador of the united nations, he was not about to thumb his chest in the face that day. he almost all candidly said we are trying not to give anybody a hard time. another reporter, who will remain unidentified, pointed out mr. president, you don't seem elated. president bush, famously said, i am elated. just not an emotional kind of guy. i know that some reporters hope for the quote of the day. the sound bite. one of the other entries that jean provided, my wife is elizabeth and i, with president bush and kennedy concorde, you know sir, this is the day that they can down. i was hoping for the punchy quote from you. i know that you didn't want to

read this thing in the nose of the soviets. you are absolutely right. i think the bush vernacular, wouldn't be prudent. that is what happened. the wall came down. this is about president bush. you are looking at where this is going. the second he was president- elect. went to islamorada in the florida keys. one of his favorite sports. bone fishing. the elusive bonefish that he would go after. what are you guys doing here? we are covering you, sir.

great britain was standing there. where are you folks from? -- for years to come. in the middle of the floor, he traveled to the desert of saudi arabia thanksgiving lunch with the troops, we found ourselves out to a ship in the persian gulf. somehow, this light jacket, and all this other equipment, i was shoved right into the face of the president. what are you doing here? on one of the many trips to

kennedy buckboard, everyone in the white house press board really enjoyed so much. my wife, kids, and i, were standing on the dot. this is one of the faster places. they rolled up in the boat. he said, what are you doing here? >> you talk about his foreign- policy expertise. nautical atlantic magazine several years ago. which described bush as one of the three great modern foreign- policy presidents. franklin roosevelt and dwight eisenhower. for me to stop in and see him, i brought a magazine. no, we haven't heard about it. we had seen it. he looked at it. he asked me about the author. he said you know this is very

flattering. this is the same league. this is with roosevelt and eisenhower. i can't imagine some people maybe have it coming like that. >> after he left office, the interview him on the 25th anniversary. one of the toughest days in history. the date of the assassination attempt on president ronald reagan. i interviewed him in his office in houston. he said to me, do you mind if i read for my diary? you know, of course, that would be wonderful. roll the tape. he read from his diary. the notes he took that day. just short bursts of very poignant words. i'm paraphrasing. he said, praying for him. after returning to washington. when he returned to washington,

it was suggested that the most expeditious thing, would be for him to land on the south lawn. he refused to do that, because of the symbolism that it would show. i recently told this story. after the interview was finished, typically, was concerned about me, or whoever he was with. what are you doing the rest of the day? as a matter of fact, i'm going to texas a&m. i'm going to go to your library. i'm going to meet the roman ambassador. the director right then. you will need directions. the biggest thing is mapquest. take highway such and such down to college station, and i turn on barbara bush drive. he looked at me, and said you must have one of those cpus. >> [ laughter ].

>> like i say, so many of my favorite moments were after he left office. another one happened in texas a&m. president obama -- >> the aggies need to calm down. for those of you who are an aggie, do it again. that's what they do at texas a&m. you'll get used to it. >> she told him, i was going to be there with president obama. tell him to drop by. someone sent word. i was going to say hello. bring your recording device. they escorted me up to the apartment, where they had it above the library. beautiful place. took me outside. lo and behold, president mrs. bush, sitting on the patio. i have my recorder. i would like to talk to you if i could read i said of course.

i asked mrs. bush about her literacy program, about president bush, about what he had been doing. this is where i got in trouble with. when she found out about this later. i said to him, you must be pleased if president obama came here, to honor you for the 20th anniversary. oh yes. what do you think about the heat that he is taking from the conservative talk show host? he made a couple of comments about that. you know, george w, he was talking about president 43. he really took a lot of heat. i'm not going to mention any names, he says. sent over a couple of sick

puppies. >> i just want to say really quick. >> you have 10 seconds left. >> before coming back out here today, i was reminded that president bush, was famous for his humility. i was reminded that john meacham, was one of his eulogies. he wanted me to read the eulogy that he wrote to president bush, before he died. he just wanted him to hear it. what do you think? i think it is a great idea. john, came to see him. he read the eulogy to present bush. you are going to swear that i am not make this up. he said to john, that is very good.

it's a little bit too much about me. looked at me like what do i do with that? mr. president, is the eulogy i am giving at your funeral. it is supposed to be about you. maybe a little bit much. what do you want? you are the boss here. >> do we have time for opening it up for question and answer? >> i will give it for everybody. >> i have to say, these four people on this podium, greatly inspired me to go into communications. i worked with the best house press corps. >> tell everybody what you did at the white house. >> i will brag a little bit. i was the only full fema time press advantages for resident

bush for four years. we pay you so that you stay on the road. i am on the road back to my parents house. three nights a month. i just went from city to city. they inspired after we lost, to installing things that change me as an adult. went on to going into communications. i have to ask all of you, how do you see reporting today, versus the way i all watched you report? i know the way you used to report. the duty, the people who really taught me how to be a thoughtful communicator, i would love to hear your thoughts on what you think is

recording today. -- reporting today. >> i find myself swearing at the media three times a day. it has become much more superficial, focused on celebrity row, then policy. i haven't canceled my newspapers prescription yet. >> it is true that the americans get their ways now. so dramatically different from the digital age. it is never going back. it is shorter, thicker, in our hands, and in our pockets. there is not that sense of a unified flow of news, from reliable news sources. what hasn't changed, is what our job always was. hope still is now for the

future generations. to look at candidly, and fairly, at those who hold the public trust, to hold them to account. and to accurately report what the leaders are doing, who have control of our nation. let the american people decide, whether that is what they voted into office. >> a real tragedy, the invention of the news cycle. i think it was a very short fuse on government decision- making. if we had that during the cuban missile crisis, i would hate to think what might have happened. >> briefly, like you, i will say we want to hear as many questions as we can. i always say, to bounce off of what my colleagues have said, i feel like breaking news is too often broken news.

the rush, the constant, breathless reporting, without the facts. without exactly what is going on. without quotes to back it all up, it is just too often, broken. >> i can fear one thing more. what does an error going forward, with the effective artificial intelligence mean for all of us? >> more of the loss of local newspapers. my little hometown in illinois, has been done for years. nobody is holding city council or the school board. all of the country, it is the same thing. it is very sad. >> thank you. i'm with the irrigation center. my thoughts and questions are about what president bush may have shared or engaged about

the people's republic and -- republic of china. engaging with a communist government, versus helping the chinese people. you know? move out of poverty, and into the middle class. and, engaging in the 21st century. >> why are you all looking at me >> before you answer, please raise your hand, and someone will bring you a microphone. we can get the next question in the queue. >> barbara bush, riding their chinese bicycles all the way back to the united dates. he was the ambassador to china when it was still a liaison office. i think he had a unique approach. he saw china at a ground-level, a human level. that is incredibly important for someone who would then later become president of the united dates. >> do you want to add something

to this? i am not qualified to answer the question read a lot of the white house staff are not here. giving you a chance to say something. >> you have to come and use the microphone. >> it would be good for who you are. i think it would be good. >> deputy chief of staff the first two years of the president bush term. i think president bush, had a love for china. i also think that he knew that the relationship was just the beginning. i think he worked very hard to put it on a positive track. terrible set back to that. that was being very careful when that happened. said privately, to talk.

he worked very hard, to try to forge, insisting, a relationship between our two countries. having said that, he was definitely not in support of the communist system. that would necessarily last. i think you'd be very sad to track the relations. he worked very hard, to keep u.s. and chinese relationships on a positive track moving forward. in hopes that it would lead to better things moving forward. >> you very much. anybody else? >> hi.

australian national university. does want to say, great to be here. great to honor the man, the president. greatly admired from the bipartisan bases in australia. real great honor for me to be here. i'm wanting to reflect on what the panel had to say. a moment ago, a problem in the media today. what he might say we should do. what can we do? what do you think we can do to check the chaos that we are facing? thank you. >> check the chaos. are you talking about the chaos in the media? chaos in the media? that is the review. you are not the chaos. you need to answer the question. >> are you referring to the media or the chaos of the nation in the world?

>> the chaos that the media is looking at the final. disinformation, and you made the point. failure to be objectively reflected on facts, figures, quotes, double checking, cooperating, allowing false riddles to be perpetuated as truth. >> i have the impression, just as a user of the media, not enough care being taken, to make sure that a lot of disinformation, is not getting into the american information action. i saw an example when i was still working. the first presidential election, barack obama was involved. i got an email one time. it was a column, written by

maureen dowd. framing at times, it looked for all the work to come out. president obama, had been looking at money from the 70s. all of them, reportedly illegal. i shared it to my wife. she was a big barack obama supporter. this bothers me. i knew the writing style. i knew that it was not her voice. i checked, and we had written this on the day of this:, supposedly. she had written the story. i called the new york times. going out to a lot of people. never knew of them doing anything about it.

i don't think the media is careful enough making sure that what they are dealing with, is not disinformation. >> thank you. i have another encounter with president hw bush in 2001 in houston, texas. we were at a tennis tournament together. i had one encounter with president george h.w. bush. in houston, texas. i was playing tennis in florida. one of jeff's really good friends. i was going to meet someone very special. sitting on a very hot day.

he had a bottle of water. i didn't have water at the time. he said to me, he knew who i was. i drink it already. he gave me his water. i took a sip. i gave it back to him, and he finished it. when i heard you talk about it, if i never wanted a second dad, i got one. thank you for tonight. this is absolutely brilliant. here i am in the most humble of positions, why are you republican? i am a conservative read she is my role model. when you meet someone, you can't help to be a republican. thank you. >> thank you very much. thank you. thank you for sharing that. i love the beginning part of her story. president bush, restaurants in

houston, mattress mac. he sells mattresses. they were very good friends. i know that the students have to go to class. >> you can throw whatever you want. >> george herbert walker bush, was in the national cathedral. beautiful ceremony. i have never looked at the presidential official statements before. when we came in, i happened to be standing with a couple others. from abc news. four young men, who were wearing plaid shirts, corduroy jackets. they are looking around, walking in the cathedral. looking like this. they were amazed to be in all

of this. i said to them, how do you know bush? they said, they were his caretakers, in kenny. i got the names wrong. >> i want you to know, i am standing with the mayor of washington. some of the elite secret service leaders. these four, were greeted, and let down to sit with the family. you have my respect. exactly the kind of graciousness that i recall from george herbert walker bush. bringing you up. you had cared for him in these last weeks and hours. sitting right up there as a member of his family. >> i have been wanting to introduce all night.

please stand up. evan, he's going to kill me. evan was president bush last aid. somebody give him a microphone. tell him a little bit about serving in afghanistan with the marines. he just got his white coat. tell us a little bit about yourself. >> i don't really have much to say. this was really a wonderful program. >> we want to talk about you. i'm telling you that president bush lived two years longer than you would have read i do have to tell you my favorite story. evan, going to be a physicians assistant. going to be apa. thought about becoming a doctor. he decided he wanted to do something more hands-on.

i was there the day he told president bush he was going to go to medical school. george herbert walker bush, says that is a good resume builder. resume builder. just got his white coat. >> thank you very much. it is just a credit to president bush. anybody that worked for him, wanted to go further in life to serve their community, to serve their country. surrounded by people that he promoted, and give the opportunity to do that. >> character matters. >> i know there are a couple of questions. with apologies, we do need to stick on a schedule here. jean would like to sign more books, notably. the students in the room, also

need to get to class. i demand they get to class on time. let me thank all of you for being here. i would like to give you all a small token. 2020, the u.s. began george herbert walker bush dollar coins. of course, we would like to give all of you a queen of thanks for in the third -- us tonight. thank you very much. thank you very much. absolutely. >> i have one. thank all of you for being here. we hope that you consider coming back to the bush school. we have a lot of speakers over time. nothing as special as this panel. thank you very much. >> let me go back.

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